Local History: The Lost North End Film Screening and Discussion

The Lost North End: A Tale of Wreckage and Resilience
Film screening and Q&A with the filmmakers

The Lost North End: A Tale of Wreckage and Resilience is a documentary created by local residents. It tells the story of the North End, a close-knit Italian-American neighborhood in Portsmouth, destroyed by Urban Renewal in the late 1960s. The North End's destruction served as a catalyst for the rise of historic preservation movements in the United States, shifting the focus from demolition to the preservation of valuable historic structures and neighborhoods. 

The film features poignant interviews with former residents who recount the vibrant community life, strong family ties, and the devastating impact of losing their homes and businesses. It highlights the resilience of these individuals who, despite displacement, preserved their community traditions and enduring friendships. 

This film, directed by Scott Maclin and produced by Laura Pope, Massimo Morgia, and Robyn Aldo, with Julie Gagne contributing interviews, narration, and co-writing, provides a valuable glimpse into the past and a crucial reminder of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.

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About the Presenters
Robyn Aldo, an attorney and consultant, is an Italian-American who is passionate about giving back to the community through Board participation in non-profits and leaning into the Italian community. Robyn is a co-producer of The Lost North End: a Tale of Wreckage and Resilience. She co-chaired Little Italy Celebrations, one of several committees working on projects and events for the PortsmouthNH400th in 2023. She is full of gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Portsmouth and the former North Enders. The Masquerade Ball, the Carnival, and the Reunion Feast for these displaced residents as well as the short documentary were the highlights of her service in 2023. 

Julie Gagne is an Italian-American with roots in Portsmouth’s North End. She is passionate about the Italian culture and language, having spent several years in Italy as an interpreter and translator. She has also learned about her ancestry through travel and familial connections in Sant’Arcangelo di Romagna, Italy, the origin of many North End residents. Julie is the narrator and host of The Lost North End: a Tale of Wreckage and Resistance.

Laura Pope has written about Portsmouth for decades — as an arts journalist and as an author, editor, and historian. She served as a co-producer, screenwriter, and historian for The Lost North End: A Tale of Wreckage and Resilience, a 55-minute documentary about the Urban Renewal Project that destroyed a 30-acre, predominantly Italian working-class neighborhood in the North End in the late 1960s and early 70s. She joined the Little Italy Celebrations committee — one of several committees working on projects and events for the PortsmouthNH400th in 2023 — by coordinating the interviews and the filming of oral history interviews with former North End residents and preservationist, Bob Thoresen.